A Dream to Challenge the 'World of dreams'. Evanescence and Desire in "Ano ie" (1953) by Enchi Fumiko

This is an analysis of the short story Ano ie by Enchi Fumiko (1905-1986), based on the affinity with noh, both in structure and content. In particular, the main plays quoted are Dōjōji and Izutsu, which both revolve around the notion of female desire at the centre of their narration. After surveying the readings of the texts by a few scholars, such as Wakita Haruko, Kanaseki Takeshi and Susan Blakely Klein, the article will look at how the intertextual references to the two plays in Ano ie construct Enchi’s singular interpretation of female desire, which is seen in its many stages through the life of the protagonist, Kayo. In conclusion, the dream-like structure of the narration becomes the only way to escape from obsessions and the evanescence of life, allowing the protagonist to be the spectator of her own past and sublimate her negative passions.